BPF’s response to Government’s non-domestic Private Rented Sector MEES consultation

The British Property Federation (BPF) have responded to the Government’s future trajectory for non-domestic Private Rented Sector MEES consultation.

The government’s non-domestic Private Rented Sector minimum energy efficiency standards: future trajectory to 2030 consultation closed yesterday (7 January 2020) at 11.45pm.

The consultation seeks views on how best to improve the energy performance of non-domestic private rented buildings through tighter minimum energy standards. Acting now to set a clear long-term trajectory to 2030 is designed to provide time and certainty to non-domestic landlords, businesses and the energy efficiency market in delivering the energy savings to support a zero-carbon future.

Alex Green, Assistant Director (Development and Sustainability), British Property Federation, comments:

“The property industry is fully committed to de-carbonising the built environment. We support the government’s ambition to mandate an EPC rating of B for all non-domestic privately rented buildings by a single backstop date of 2030.

“The single backstop date will provide landlords and building owners with a level of certainty and clarity that is key to making investment and development decisions. The 2030 target also offers them enough time to take the necessary steps to achieve compliance with the new ratings in the context of their own unique business models, and tenancy and renovation cycles.

“We urge the government, however, to deliver on its promise to also introduce mandatory in-use energy performance ratings, which will engender a culture of continuously measuring and improving energy consumption in commercial buildings. EPC ratings alone won’t be enough to ensure improved operational energy efficiency, as EPCs do not provide an accurate representation of the actual energy performance of a building. It will also be critical that the government supports the enforcement of these regulations by providing much-needed resource to local authorities.”

Kindly shared by British Property Federation (BPF)